- Born
- Died
- Birth namePeter Duesler Aurness
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- Peter Graves was born Peter Duesler Aurness on March 18, 1926 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. While growing up in Minnesota, he excelled at sports and music (as a saxophonist), and by age 16, he was a radio announcer at WMIN in Minneapolis. After two years in the United States Army Air Force, he studied drama at the University of Minnesota and then headed to Hollywood, where he first appeared on television and later made his film debut in Rogue River (1951). Numerous film appearances followed, especially in Westerns. However, Graves is primarily recognized for his television work, particularly as Jim Phelps in Mission: Impossible (1966). Peter Graves died of a heart attack on March 14, 2010, just four days before his 84th birthday.- IMDb mini biography by: Lyn Hammond
- SpouseJoan Endress(December 16, 1950 - March 14, 2010) (his death, 3 children)
- ChildrenKelly Graves
- ParentsRolf AurnessRuth Aurness
- RelativesJames Arness(Sibling)Rolf Aurness(Niece or Nephew)
- Grey hair and blue eyes
- Deep commanding voice
- Broad shoulders
- Charismatic characters whose leadership inspires great confidence
- He said it was almost over for Captain Clarence Oveur before the movie Airplane! (1980) took flight. Graves said he was astounded when his agent sent him the script for the 1980 spoof, and after reading it he felt that it was "the worst piece of junk" he had ever seen. However, he changed his mind after meeting with the movie's writers, Jerry Zucker and David Zucker.
- During World War II, he and his brother James Arness joined the United States Army. Arness was an infantryman and was wounded in the battle of Anzio, Italy, while Graves was posted to the Army Air Force (which later became a separate branch of the United States military).
- He refused to reprise his role of Jim Phelps for Mission: Impossible (1996), citing that he didn't want his character to go bad. He also stated, even if he could agree, he didn't want to 'die-off' at the end. The role went to Jon Voight.
- Met Joan Graves while in college. She would be his wife for nearly 60 years, until Graves' own passing on March 14, 2010.
- Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Jim Phelps in Mission: Impossible (1966).
- Some people just stand out on the screen. Bob certainly did. [commenting on Airplane! co-star Robert Stack]
- [on the Jim Phelps character in the 1996 film 'Mission: Impossible'] I am sorry that they chose to call him Phelps. They could have solved that very easily by either having me in a scene in the very beginning, or reading a telegram from me saying, 'Hey, boys, I'm retired, gone to Hawaii. Thank you, goodbye, you take over now'.
- [2009, on continuing to act] There has got to be some good parts around for guys my age.
- Mission: Impossible (1966) - $7,500 per episode (1969 season)
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